Garden in North Augusta allows everyone to enjoy spring renewal

Julia Sellers

Friday

Mar 28, 2008 at 6:00 AM

AIKEN --- The shade of Allee elm trees and the trickling of a stream make the North Augusta sensory garden a perfect springtime sanctuary.

Created at the Living History Park off Spring Grove Road in North Augusta, the sensory garden is a hands-on experience for those wanting to enjoy and learn more about the outdoors. It's a sensory garden because it has components to stimulate all senses, making it appealing and useful to the visually impaired. Some clinics use excursions to the garden in their work.

"The ultimate goal is to be very user friendly and educational," said Hank McKenney, a gardener who helps maintain the property. There's even a watering area for guide dogs at the gate.

Blooms on crab apple trees molded to create arches catch the eye first. A path to the left leads to benches, while a path on the right takes visitors to a man-made stream and the aroma of herbs planted along the water's edge.

Where someone with sight would see the crab apple trees and the path to the stream, those that are blind can enjoy the plot with their other senses.

For instance, birds chirping hint that a plant with fruit is nearby, such as the blueberry planted along the outside edge of the garden. The smell of mint and sage draw visitors to another side of the park.

The Olde Towne Preservation Society maintains the garden, along with the 8-acre Living History Park, which features a log cabin and walking trails.

As Mr. McKenney weeds each Wednesday, he usually comes up with ideas about where new plants can go or how other plants can receive better care to make the garden more user friendly.

Eventually, a gazebo will be placed in the back of the garden,, giving musicians a place to perform in warmer months, said Lynn Thompson, Olde Towne's president.

"We just want to offer people something that gets them away from their TVs and computers," she said.